Table 2 Gender differences in HVSM use
Author (year) | Main HVSM | Site | Study population [N, Gender (M/F), M Age (SD)] | Methods | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dhir (2016) [36] | Any HVSM | Norway | Adolescents (N = 968) M/F ratio = 398/570 Age (SD) = 16.96 (4.5) Young Adults (N = 1472) M/F ratio = 478/994 Age (SD) = 24.18 (3.5) Adults: (N = 1323) M/F ratio = 378/945 Age (SD) = 39.73 (5.66) | Survey | Females were more likely to take personal/group selfies, post personal selfies, crop photos, and use photographic filters compared to males |
Tamplin (2018) [37] | Any HVSM | Australia | Young Adults (N = 374) M/F ratio = 187/187, Age (SD) = 23.7 (3.8) | Survey Measured state body satisfaction, SM literacy, internalization of appearance ideals, and trait UAC | Negative effect of ideal image exposure on body satisfaction observed across genders |
Fatt (2019) [38] | Australia | Adolescents and young adults (N = 118) M/F ratio = 118/0 Age (SD) = 19.43 (1.92) | Survey A 9-point Likert-type scale, Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised, internalization Muscular subscale from the male version of SATAQ-4R, EMI-2, BESAA | Fitspiration is more closely related to appearance than to health in men | |
Lonergan (2019) [39] | Any HVSM | Australia | Adolescents and young adults (N = 184) M/F = 89/95 Age (SD) = M: 20.13 (3.43) F: 19.73 (3.48) | Survey | Manipulation and concern about selfies posted may be risk correlates for body dissatisfaction in men and women |
Daniels (2020) [40] | United States | Adolescents and young adults (N = 189) M/F ratio = 78/111 Age (SD) = 19.78 (1.89) | Observation Viewed a Facebook profile with either an objectified or a nonobjectified profile photo and evaluated the profile owner | Female participants liked the non-objectified profile and profile photo better than the objectified profile and profile photo | |
Rodgers (2020) [2] | Any HVSM | United States | College students (N = 170) M/F ratio = 85/85 Age = 22.2 | Survey Reported on dating app use, body shame, surveillance, body satisfaction, media ideal internalization, and controllability beliefs related to weight/shape | Among males, frequent checking of dating apps was positively correlated with body shame and negatively with beliefs regarding weight/shape controllability. Few associations emerged among females |
Rodgers (2020) [41] | Any HVSM | Australia | Adolescents (N = 681) M/F ratio = 333/348 Age (SD) = 12.76 (0.74) | Survey Completed a questionnaire assessing SMU, depression, self-esteem, BMI, muscular ideal internalization, AC, BD, DE, and muscle-building behaviors | Biopsychosocial frameworks are useful for conceptualizing relationships between SMU and body image, eating, and muscle building outcomes, preferentially in males |
Koterba (2021) [42] | Any HVSM | United States | Young adults (N = 276) M/F ratio = 58/218 Age (SD) = 20.03 (1.81) | Survey (NPI-13) Selfies taken in the past week that included only themselves and the number that included others | Though no gender difference emerged for selfies taken alone, selfies featuring others were more common among women |
Mahon (2021) [43] | Any HVSM | Ireland | Adolescents (N = 29) M/F ratio = 6/23 Age (SD) = 15.31 (0.47) | Focus groups | Boys exhibited greater positive agency over their bodies and SMU and tended to use more active coping styles than girls |
Mayoh (2021) [44] | Any HVSM | United Kingdom | Adolescents and young adults (N = 1213) M/F ratio = 826/1175 Age range = 18–24 years | Web-based survey | Men were more likely to view content posted by athletes and actively use fitspiration as a source of inspiration to gain muscle. Women were more likely to view content related to weight loss/diet plans/celebrities’ content and passively use fitspiration as inspiration to lose weight |
Schettino (2022) [45] | Italy/ Portugal | Young adults (N = 340; Italy = 211; Portugal = 129) M/F ratio = 88/252 Age (SD) = 23.08 (3.46) | Survey Completed measures on selfie-sharing, selfie-manipulation, APC, internalization of beauty ideals, and shame for their bodies | Gender significantly moderates the effect of appearance comparison on body shame on Instagram, with a significant effect only for females | |
Simon (2022) [46] | Philippines | Undergraduate students (N = 897) M/F ratio = 141/756 Age (SD) = 20.04 (1.29) | Survey | Physical appearance perfectionism significantly mediates the relationship between Instagram addiction and body esteem, with gender differences |